Judge denies early end to former trooper’s probation

Christopher Kennedy of West Springfield, a former state trooper, in Hampshire Superior Court in Northampton in May 2016. Kennedy’s request to end probation early was denied by a judge this week.FILE PHOTO

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SPRINGFIELD — A Hampden Superior Court judge has denied a request by a former Massachusetts state trooper convicted of indecently assaulting a Worthington woman to end his probation early.

Christopher Kennedy, 34, of West Springfield, presented his case Wednesday before Judge Richard Carey, stating that he is nearly three quarters of the way through his probationary sentence and was recently offered a sales job which would require him to leave the state. Kennedy also argued that while it “may seem trivial” he was unable to spend time with his children at the beach and pool because of his GPS device.

Carey took the request under advisement following a hearing and denied it later in the day.

Kennedy was convicted May 27, 2016, in Hampshire Superior Court of indecent exposure, assault and battery and indecent assault and battery. He was sentenced to six months in jail, and ultimately served four and a half months, followed by two years of probation with conditions, including GPs monitoring.

Prosecutors previously said in court that the fully uniformed Kennedy exposed himself to a woman in her Worthington home on a July evening in 2014 and forced her to grope him. The Gazette generally does not identify the victims of sexual assault. The two met on a dating website and had exchanged sexually suggestive messages. Kennedy formerly worked in the state police’s Northampton barracks.

Representing himself, Kennedy made the request to end his probation earlier this month before presenting his case to Carey in court on Wednesday.

“There are only a finite number of years in which children want to play and spend quality time with their parents before they get too old and no longer want the time and attention they once did,” Kennedy wrote in his motion.

According to Kennedy’s affidavit in support of his motion, as well as the testimony of a probation officer at the hearing, he has been in compliance with the conditions of his probation to date.

First Assistant Northwestern District Attorney Steven Gagne argued against Kennedy’s request and wrote in court documents that “the Commonwealth would like to emphasize the fact that the defendant should consider himself fortunate that his sentence consisted primarily of probation, combined with a relatively short period of incarceration.”

In denying Kennedy’s request, Carey amended Kennedy’s probation conditions to allow him to travel out of state for work provided he gives details to a probation officer before he travels. Kennedy’s probation is scheduled to end on Dec. 30, 2018.